The National tribune., 1887-05-26
THE 124th OHIO.
Brief Sketch OF Its Part In the Battle Of Chick.
amaaga.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Permit me 70
offer a short sketch of the movements Of the
124th Ohio in the battle Of Chickamaaga. At
o'clock in the morning of Sept 10, 1863, we
went into bivOuac on the left of the State road
about two miles north of Lee & GordOns Mills
At $50 we moved forward to the road. The
4lst Ohio deployed in our front, stood at arms
until ii o'clock a. M, during which time heavy
firing was heard on our left.
At 11:30 o'clock we received orders 10 move
70 the left along the State road, which we did
with Co. b as flankers, until we reached a road
which we followed about half a mile; thence
turned 10 the right and continued half mile
farther, when we again came into position
Presently, when we had advanced again but
a short distance, firing commenced in our
front and we were aTrayed in line Of battle
under heavy fire Of musketTy from the enc
my. Orders were soon received TO move by the
left flank and form a continuation Of the line
of battle of the 41st Ohio
At this junetGre Cos A and III were confused
by misunderstanding of orders, and became
detached from the regiment. After several
movements under heavy fire, which was tell
ing fearfulIy in our ranks, our Colonel %. H.
Payne) fell severely wounded, and was carried
to the rear. In the course of the battle we were
ordered to join our brigade, and shortly after
an engagement took place with but little shell
ter on either side. Repeatedly the enemy made
attacks on our combined fire of artillery and
infantry, but were repulsed with heavy losses.
At last il was evident that triumph was ours,
as the enemy's line was giving way. Too
much cannot be said in praise of the skill and
courage of the men in this engagement for few
troops ever met as heavy aud resolute fire. An
attack by the enemy from another quarter,
which was checked By the fire Of batteries
massed on our left, ended the fighting of the
18th.
On the morning of the Goth we threw up
slight breastworks Of logs and rails, behind
which we fought without loss until afternoon,
the enemy making several attempts to capture
our works. At about 8 o'clock we were order
ed to support Col. Harker's Brigade, which we
did, and suffered a loss Of several killed and
wounded in performing the movement Shortly
after heavy firing was developed on our left,
and our regiment was ordered TO change front
| from right to rear which was done promptly
and without loss. At twilight all firing appa-
Tently ceased. After dark we were ordered to
retreat on the road to ROssville and we went
into bvouac at Rossyille and remained there
until So'clOck the next morning, when we were
moved to the front line of the brigade on Mis-
sion Ridge. There we threw up breastwOrk
/ of rails and stones and remained during the
| day, exposed in the afternoon to light fire
/ from a rebel battery.
| The early loss of the Colonel was most keenly
I felt by the regiment, and the boundless conf
/ denee in his skill, tact and courage. and his
/ gallant conduct before he was wounded, gave
evidence of what might have been expected in
subsequent encounters. His loss was lamented
| by both officers and men.
| The aggregate number of killed, wounded
/ and missing of the I2Ith during the battle was
| HI. Il. BRAINARD, Co. X, 124th Ohio, Gus
| tayus, o.